Pyongyang, Korea, North; Russia

Department 53 of The Ministry of The People’s Armed Forces (Department 53) is a DPRK weapons-trading entity subordinate to the DPRK Ministry of National Defense. In addition to selling advanced conventional weapons and military grade communications equipment, Department 53 generates revenue using front companies in a variety of industrial sectors, including IT and software development. Department 53 is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13687 for being an agency, instrumentality, or controlled entity of the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea. Department 53 front company Korea Osong Shipping Co (Osong) has maintained delegations of DPRK IT workers in Laos since at least 2022. As directed by their on-site supervisors, these workers have used aliases to communicate with clients and generate revenue for the DPRK regime, on IT projects such as cryptocurrency exchanges, website and mobile applications. OFAC is designating Osong pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea. Since at least 2021, Department 53 front company Chonsurim Trading Corporation (Chonsurim) has also directed an additional group of DPRK IT workers in Laos to use falsified identification credentials to undertake software development and other IT work for companies around the world. Chonsurim is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2790

2025-01-16

US

Executive Order 13687 of January 2, 2015 Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect To North Korea

OFAC country specific / UN

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Blocking Property, Suspending Entry, Trade sanctions

• https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/1556 460. Can U.S. persons do business with entities in North Korea? No. Unless authorized pursuant to a general or specific license from OFAC and/or BIS, Executive Order (E.O.) 13722 prohibits new investment in North Korea by a U.S. person and the exportation or reexportation, from the United States, or by a U.S. person, of any goods, services, or technology to North Korea. E.O. 13810 (“Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to North Korea”) does not modify any of those prohibitions.

On January 2, 2015, the President issued E.O. 13687 pursuant to, inter alia, IEEPA and the NEA, to take additional steps to address the national emergency declared in E.O. 13466 and expanded in E.O. 13551. E.O. 13687 provides for the blocking of property and interests in property of certain persons with respect to North Korea.

SDN